AMCAT (Powered by SHL) integration for Greenhouse: automated assessments, structured scoring, implementation steps and KPIs

AMCAT (Powered by SHL) provides a plug-and-play assessment suite that integrates with Greenhouse to move candidate assessment data directly into your ATS workflow. The integration consolidates test invitations, scores, and detailed skill reports in candidate profiles so recruiters and hiring managers can make decisions from one concise location. This article explains what the AMCAT–Greenhouse integration does, which teams and company sizes benefit most, and the measurable advantages and operational considerations for deploying the combined workflow.

What the integration does: it automates assessment delivery, results capture, and candidate status updates between AMCAT (SHL) and Greenhouse. Instead of manually exporting scores or copying links, recruiters trigger assessments from Greenhouse, and completed results appear on the candidate’s Greenhouse record with pass/fail thresholds, sub-scores, and attachments where available. It also supports advanced test types — cognitive and functional assessments (AMCAT), automated coding evaluation (Automata), and spoken English assessment (SVAR) — making it straightforward to evaluate technical, cognitive and communication skills within the same ATS flow.

Core assessment products included in the integration

• AMCAT (Cognitive & Functional) Adaptive standardized tests that measure logical reasoning, quantitative ability, data interpretation and various domain-specific skills for roles across engineering, finance, sales and operations.
• Automata (Automated Coding Evaluation) Machine-learning-driven code assessment that simulates technical interviews, evaluates correctness, performance and coding style for multiple languages and challenge types.
• SVAR (Spoken English) Automated evaluation of pronunciation, fluency, listening comprehension, vocabulary and grammar to quantify spoken communication ability for client-facing or international roles.

Who benefits most from the AMCAT–Greenhouse integration: talent acquisition teams seeking structured, objective evaluation earlier in the funnel. Typical users include enterprise recruiting teams (1,000+ employees) and mid-market companies scaling technical or volume hiring (100–1,000 employees) that need consistency and speed across high-volume or specialized roles. Hiring managers, technical leads, and campus recruiters also benefit: managers receive comparable scorecards across candidates; engineering teams see graded code submissions; campus teams reduce manual resume sorting with standardized assessment gates.

Compatibility snapshot

Key benefits for recruiters and hiring managers

• Single-pane workflow Assessment invites, results and scorecards appear inside Greenhouse candidate profiles — fewer context switches and faster decisions.
• Faster screening at scale Automated testing and scoring reduces time spent on manual resume reviews for high-volume requisitions.
• Objective skill data Standardized assessment metrics minimize variance in initial screening and provide consistent pass/fail thresholds.
• Role-specific evaluation Mix cognitive, functional and coding assessments to match the exact technical and communication requirements of a job.

Typical technical integration steps: activate the AMCAT–SHL connector in Greenhouse, configure the assessment templates and thresholds, map assessment outcomes to Greenhouse score fields and workflow stages, and test the invitation and results flow in a staging environment. Because it’s an out-of-box integration, setup tends to be faster than fully custom integrations but still requires coordination between TA, IT, and hiring teams. Exchange and mapping specifics: the integration sends candidate identifiers and invite triggers to AMCAT, and AMCAT returns structured results (overall score, sections/subscores, attachments) which Greenhouse stores in candidate activity or custom fields depending on your configuration.

Implementation checklist for a smooth rollout

• Define hiring use cases Select which roles require assessments and which test types (AMCAT, Automata, SVAR) match role outcomes.
• Set scoring rules Agree pass/fail cutoffs, weightings for sub-scores, and how results map into interview stage decisions.
• Configure Greenhouse Enable the connector, map fields, and set automated stage transitions on assessment completion.
• Pilot and calibrate Run a small pilot with hiring managers, review false positives/negatives, and adjust thresholds.
• Train users Provide quick start guides for recruiters and scoring interpretation sessions for hiring managers.

Candidate experience considerations: assessment invites should be clear about duration, allowed breaks, and retake policy. AMCAT’s adaptive tests and Automata’s automated grading shorten candidate time while providing robust output, but communicate expectations to reduce dropout. SVAR’s spoken-English evaluation requires good audio instructions and optionally mobile compatibility for broader reach. Accessibility and language options are important when recruiting globally; ensure the chosen test language and interface meet your candidate pool needs and that privacy notices (per AMCAT policy) are surfaced during invite.

Post-deployment KPIs to track

Common questions and concise answers

Best practices to maximize ROI: start with a focused pilot on a few roles, use objective pass/fail thresholds and iterate based on pilot data, and combine assessment outputs with interview rubrics rather than replacing interviews entirely. Maintain a feedback loop: collect hiring manager feedback on the predictive value of scores and adjust test mix and cutoffs accordingly. Also document your workflow so new recruiters understand where assessments fit within sourcing, interview scheduling and offer decision processes — clear ownership reduces bottlenecks and accelerates time-to-hire improvements.

Troubleshooting tips and when to escalate

• Invite failures Confirm candidate email is valid in Greenhouse and that API keys/connectors are active. Re-send invites from the candidate timeline if needed.
• Missing scores Check field mappings and webhook logs between AMCAT and Greenhouse; ensure AMCAT returned the result payload and no filtering is blocking attachments.
• High dropout rate Review invite copy, test duration, and mobile compatibility; consider lowering test length or offering breaks.
• When to contact support Escalate to AMCAT/SHL for assessment-specific issues and to Greenhouse for connector or field-mapping errors. Keep logs and example candidate IDs handy.

Assessment-led screening vs resume-only screening: assessments provide standardized, role-relevant metrics that reduce subjective bias inherent in resume review and help identify candidates who may not have traditional backgrounds but possess required skills. However, the best practice is a hybrid approach: use assessments to triage candidates and resumes to surface contextual fit, cultural signals, and experiences that tests don’t measure. Conclusion: integrating AMCAT (Powered by SHL) with Greenhouse centralizes skills data in the ATS, speeds up screening, and improves the predictability of early-stage hiring decisions when configured and calibrated properly.